Late Maggio strike stuns Palermo
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
ROME, Dec 7 (AFP): Christian Maggio scored deep into injury time to give Napoli a 1-0 victory at home to Palermo at the San Paolo in Naples Monday night.
After a largely tame affair, Maggio pounced 30 seconds before the end of injury time to keep Napoli in third but now just six points behind leaders AC Milan and level on points with third placed Juventus.
Palermo dropped two places to seventh as the slight hit to their goal difference nevertheless allowed both Inter Milan and Sampdoria to leap-frog them.
As the game seemed destined to end goalless, Marek Hamsik played Serie A top-goalscorer Edinson Cavani in behind the visitors' defence and he laid the ball on a plate to Maggio.
However, Maggio nonetheless did his best to miss from a yard out, slipping as he stretched out with his right leg, missing the ball, but then inadvertently diverting it home with his trailing left leg.
It was no more than Maggio deserved as he had been the best player on the pitch but had missed another glorious chance minutes before, a chance from six yards with only goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu to beat when he stumbled and missed the ball completely.
Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri was a relieved man after the game.
After a largely tame affair, Maggio pounced 30 seconds before the end of injury time to keep Napoli in third but now just six points behind leaders AC Milan and level on points with third placed Juventus.
Palermo dropped two places to seventh as the slight hit to their goal difference nevertheless allowed both Inter Milan and Sampdoria to leap-frog them.
As the game seemed destined to end goalless, Marek Hamsik played Serie A top-goalscorer Edinson Cavani in behind the visitors' defence and he laid the ball on a plate to Maggio.
However, Maggio nonetheless did his best to miss from a yard out, slipping as he stretched out with his right leg, missing the ball, but then inadvertently diverting it home with his trailing left leg.
It was no more than Maggio deserved as he had been the best player on the pitch but had missed another glorious chance minutes before, a chance from six yards with only goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu to beat when he stumbled and missed the ball completely.
Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri was a relieved man after the game.